Beirut: In a special interview with Sky News Arabia, Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi emphasized that lifting sanctions on Syria would boost its economy and accelerate reconstruction, which would also positively impact Lebanon. He noted that Beirut stands to benefit indirectly from Syria’s recovery, particularly through reduced cross-border smuggling.

According to National News Agency – Lebanon, Raggi criticized past Syrian regimes, especially under the Assad family, for failing to recognize Lebanon’s sovereignty, describing bilateral relations as historically unhealthy. He revealed that recently acquired French-era documents, including 1920s and 1930s maps, were handed to Lebanon by France and could support border demarcation efforts. These documents have been transferred to the Lebanese Ministry of Defense for expert review.

The Foreign Minister further stressed the need for a joint Lebanese-Syrian technical committee to address the complex border issue and confirmed that Syria’s current administration has shown readiness to cooperate and acknowledge Lebanon’s final statehood.

Addressing smuggling, Raggi highlighted the challenges of securing the porous border and praised the Lebanese army’s ongoing efforts. He concluded by underlining that strong, capable states on both sides are essential to establishing firm, secure borders.